A Day At The Dogs!!

The Top Lodge Dancing Dog Team were invited to entertain during the lunch break at the huge annual gathering of Retired Greyhounds at Nottingham Race Course for a Greyhound and Companion Dog Show and Family Fun Day. 

The weather was superb for late September and the crowds were arriving well before opening time.

Lots of Trade Stands selling toys, dog food, dog wear including some superb ornate greyhound collars -  which really do look very nice around their slender necks.

The Horse Racing Parade Ring was used for the different categories to be judged and was the area where Top Lodge would be dancing.

This is one of the Top Lodge supporters - he pops along with his Barn Owl to see them whenever they are in Nottinghamshire.  He used to breed owls - now just keeps this one as his pet.

A line up of the "Black Bitch Class"

Lesley with Hamish and Karen with Kes and Midge and Kath with Amber ready for the lunchtime dancing.

Top Lodge parade around the Parade Ring!!  

Kath with Amber had new partners for the duet!  As Fly is recovering from surgery, Lesley stepped in with Hamish as they performed HTM to "I Was Born To Love You" by Freddie Mercury.

 Looking good in step with each other.

 Well Done Lesley and Hamish - they learnt the routine in just one week.

Next in the ring was Karen with Erin - her Irish rescue.  Erin is the dog most like a greyhound in the Top Lodge "Pack" and the audience was particularly impressed with how well she worked and danced with Karen.

Lots of smiles from the audience - they were probably wondering if a greyhound could possibly do as well as Erin.   (There were some huge greyhounds at this gathering - one was visibly 2 inches higher than the average height and weighed in at 45k - not a dog to teach to jump onto anyone's back!)

Denby took to the grass next with Kath to "dance" freestyle to "You Give A Little Love" from Bugsy Malone"

 Yes, looking at those eyes - definitely a sheep dog!!!

 Denby loves his jumps!

After Denby had finished, Lesley took over the ring with young Dewy to perform his freestyle routine to "The Night They Invented Champagne"

Well Done Dewy - his second Public Appearance and loving every minute.

And another first for the team - Spice had to stand in (well actually Stand, Sit, Roll, Beg, Crawl, Jump etc etc)  for Fly on the "Beat The Dog" with children invited into the ring.

 She did really well with great directions from Karen and cues from Kath!!

A lovely little beg from Spice who used the time with the children as her warm up for the final routine.

Spice and Kath finished the Top Lodge display with their old favourite "Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines".

The ground was so lush it made for hard work for such a fast routine!

 But they reached the finish without needing oxygen. 

 The first of the "Novelty Fun Classes" was Fancy Dress for Dog and Handler.

 The Lion Trainer with the lion and lioness.   "Super-dog" and his pack!

 Bo-Peep with her Sheep.

 The Surgeon Greyhound with Nurse.

 The Winner - Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatters Tea Party.

 Harry Potter - dog!!

Thank you to the Retired Greyhound Gathering 2013 for inviting the Top Lodge Dancing Dog Team to entertain you.  It was certainly a very good venue and the team received great feedback from many of the audience.

The Essex Dog Day

The Essex Dog Day - raising funds for PARC - the first time Top Lodge had performed at this show.

Plenty of attractions in the Main Ring for the visitors.

 David Seamark Sheepdog Demonstration

 Karen and her new puppy Midge had a family gathering with her siblings and relatives.

Fly's brother came along with uncle, aunty and many more - it was a "Border Collie Fest"!!

 And puppy Midge met other puppies - it was a very busy day for her!

 The birds of prey were a wonderful sight.

 Jemima Parry Jones gave a wonderful display with her many birds.

 And of course Top Lodge Dancing Dogs were busy with two performances in the Main Arena.

 Young Midge again featured strongly showing how she is learning Heel Work.

 A very happy puppy.

  Denby also showed some Heelwork positions.

And he completed his first demonstration routine!!   He did all the moves but not necessarily in the order that Kath had planned!

 Denby does like to jump and makes it look so easy!

 It was a début for Dewy too, Lesley's young dog.

They both enjoyed their freestyle routine to "The Night They Invented Champagne".

Thank you to the PARC Chair, Sarah Courage, and all the PARC Committee for inviting the Top Lodge Dancing Dog Team to entertain at this super event.

More Great Competition Results

 ANGLESEY 2013

The Ynys Mon Dog Training Club's HTM Competition is always held early July and this year was the hottest weather ever!!!  And great results from the Top Lodge Team.

Kath and Spice won the Advanced Freestyle Class

Kath and Denby were placed 2nd in the Advanced Heelwork To Music Class - his first time in Advanced too!  And he has now qualified for the Crufts 2014 Semi Final to be held in January 2014.

 Kath and Amber won the Advanced Heelwork To Music Class

The first and second placed!  

And for Lesley with her youngster Dewy - his first competition with a second place on Saturday and a WIN on Sunday - yes he is now in Intermediate Heelwork To Music.

Lesley and Dewy in the award presentation.

All the Trio were at Anglesey - Lesley and Kath judging and competing, Karen judging and then  taking time out to visit the glorious beaches with her dogs in the fabulous weather!  

(Not Allan's photos - Kath had a new camera - not as sharp as Allan but still learning!)

Good Results at Grantham

Kath and Amber Advanced HTM 2nd Place

Strictly Canine HTM Show held at the Arena in Grantham

Kath was competing this weekend with Amber and Spice.   The Advanced HTM Class was held just before lunch and in sweltering heat (22 degrees) Kath and Amber were placed second.

Kath and Spice Advanced Freestyle 1st Place

After lunch it was time for Kath to Compete with Spice to their music "The Dance Fight" from Puss In Boots - The Movie.  It was even hotter than in the morning but Kath and Spice won the Advanced Freestyle class.

A good weekend for good results.  For the other handlers and dogs in the team, they elected to do training rounds which are so very useful to keep the dogs in top condition.

Lesley and Dewy

Lesley and Hamish

Karen with Erin

Kath with Denby

The Top Lodge Trio then returned on the Sunday as 3 of the judges for the training show where they could use their expertise in the sport to help others.  A very busy weekend.

Top Lodge are in the Press!

1. The Derby Telegraph 12th June 2013
   ​
   Over the years, Karen Sykes, Kath Hardman and Lesley Neville have won several awards with their dancing dogs Kes, Erin, Fly, Denby, Spice, Amber, Dewy, Hamish and Angus. Now, Hamish, Fly, Amber, Spice and Erin will be going for glory
    in the Heelwork to Music Open European Championship.

Follow the Team GB 2013 Open European Blog Here

Read more: http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Dancing-dogs-going-Dutch-bow-wowing-Euro/story-19259580-detail/story.html#ixzz2W6OgYzkh 
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Barnard Castle and Scotland Wins for Amber and Denby

Kath and David had a bit of a holiday by taking time to go to Barnard Castle and Scotland HTM Competitions, staying for a few days near Seahouses on the East Coast.

But it wasn't all rest as Kath qualified Amber for the Crufts 2014 Semis in Heelwork To Music in Barnard Castle and went on to win the Crufts 2014 Semi Qualifier in Scotland.

Not to be beaten by Amber,  Denby was entered in 8 competition classes (4 x HTM and 4 x Freestyle)  He won 5 classes, came second and third once and was trained for fun in one class.
These results put him straight into Advanced HTM and Freestyle and still not quite 2 1/4 yrs old.  Now its time to consolidate his training to compete against the very experienced dogs!

The trophies, rosettes and prize cards awarded to Amber and Denby over 4 days competition.

Amber and Denby back home

And Spice "won" a ball as Kath trained her
each time in the ring  to have fun and to stay quiet!

Thank you to Fylde K9 Dancers (Barnard Castle) and The Scottish Beardie Club (Nr Lanark) for organising these competitions.

A New Puppy for Karen

Meet Midge Karen's new puppy - she is nearly 6 weeks old here.

A week later and now old enough to go to her new home with Karen and Allan, its time for Midge to meet her big sister Erin.

 Sleepy puppy very relaxed at her new home.

 "Any chance of a free meal"

 Playing with her new best friend.

 Whoops - bath time for Baby MIdge - not impressed with this at all!

 This is far better - running with another new friend Balliol Lowe.

Welcome Baby Midge - have a great time growing up to be another Top Lodge Dancing Dog.

'Karen and Allan would like to thank Madeleine Loft, Fran Godfrey Lacy and Inca  for giving them the opportunity to love and care for Midge.  They would also like to thank Jenny Harknett for making it possible'